Sri Lanka asked India to increase the patrol of the Palk Bay to prevent Tamil Nadu fishermen from trespassing into Sri Lankan waters, even as it expressed positive signs on the likely release of detained Indian trawlers.

After the island’s civil war ended in May 2009, fisher folk living in the Tamil majority Northern Province have been expressing serious concern over the loss of livelihoods due to relentless bottom trawling — a destructive fishing method — practised by Indian fishermen, in the Sri Lankan waters.

The long-running conflict has resulted in the arrest of several hundred Indian fishermen since 2009.

The Sri Lankan Navy has also confiscated trawlers used by the fishermen.